Biggest defect: harming community ambiance
I agree with Darcy Ashley that the streets of La Jolla, whether residential or commercial, are public streets (“Parking: Is the solution worse than the problem?”, Guest commentary, Village News, Aug. 23, page 8). The idea that homeowners should be required to get a permit to park on their own streets, and that others should not be allowed to park there, is utterly incompatible with the concept of public streets.
Further, I have lived in a city (Washington, D.C.) where such a system was in force in some neighborhoods, and I can’t possibly convey what a supreme pain in the neck it was. You couldn’t visit a friend, or even stop by to drop something off, unless the friend had obtained a parking permit for you. And even if the friend had obtained a permit for you, you had to go out and move your car if you were staying more than two hours. So if a resident had a party, or a meeting, at his or her house, an enormous amount of trouble had to be taken by the resident ahead of time, and the party or meeting was constantly disrupted by people going out to move their cars (and having to hunt, in a congested neighborhood, for alternative parking spaces).
I have also read that the proposed plan would allow each household only two permanent permits. Thus, a couple with a college kid home for the summer, or a parent living with them, could not get a permit for that person’s car. Can you imagine greater chaos?
Finally, the most important defect in the proposed parking plan is the harm it would do to the community’s ambiance. La Jolla is a pleasant, relaxed, comfortable, neighborly place. Every layer of difficulty added to our daily lives detracts from that ambiance, and probably from our property values. The proposed parking plan would make our community a much less desirable place to live. If this is the best plan we can come up with, we should, as Ashley suggests, leave things the way they are.
Candace M. Carroll, La Jolla

No paid parking
Why do some wish to spoil the ambience of La Jolla by advocating paid parking? Money!! Not only do restaurants such as Jack’s benefit, but so does Promote La Jolla and the City of San Diego. Darcy Ashley’s article of Aug. 23, 2007 was right on (“Parking: Is the solution worse than the problem?”, guest commentary, page 8). There are many variables in the parking plan proposed by the Parking Committee. There was an article by a gentleman who lived in Hollywood, Florida, where paid parking was tried, and it ruined the city’s ambience.
Our “town” is unique, and we do not have a parking problem. I need a two-hour parking place every Tuesday noon for our Rotary of La Jolla meeting at La Valencia, and not once have I not been able to find one within a four-block radius, even in the middle of the “tourist season” in La Jolla. And, I also have free Rotary parking in a garage, if I need it.
Burns, Warwick’s, Meanley’s and Bowers, our “heart of La Jolla,” are strictly against paid parking, and we hope to have signed petitions from the residents and other business owners, also.
Business owners in the downtown district should consider paying for their employees to park in a garage. This is standard in several of the business owners, and those who have a number of employees should consider it a “cost of doing business.”
Please be involved in this issue, which is vital to the continuance of our village atmosphere. The No Third Story group produced an amazing result in its defeat, by appealing to concerned citizens. Please do the same for no paid parking in La Jolla!

Sally Fuller, 32-year resident of La Jolla

Possums are misunderstood
Brava to Linda Marrone on her Aug. 23 Article, “Mother-child reunion: an opossum tale” about opossums (page B·1). Opossums are one of the most beneficial, yet least understood, animals that visit our yards at night. Ms. Marrone summed up their benefits very succinctly. I’m also glad she mentioned Project Wildlife, a nonprofit, nearly all-volunteer organization that has helped citizens and our area’s wildlife for over 35 years.
Ruth Hayward, La Jolla

Circus official’s comment falls short of reality
In a letter printed in the Aug. 23 edition of the Village News (page 8), Bruce Read, vice president of animal stewardship, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, responded to an Aug. 9 letter to the editor accusing Ringling of animal mistreatment. In his response Read cited “Ringling Bros.’ outstanding record of animal care.”
Not able to help myself, I Googled the words in this quote, minus “outstanding.” Predictably, hundreds of articles popped up chronicling Ringling’s abominable treatment of animals. A number of articles cited an actual court decision and administrative findings. For example, Ringling recently paid $20,000 to settle U.S. Department of Agriculture charges of failing to provide veterinary care to a dying baby elephant.
I am in no way shocked by what I found online. Further, I am not shocked that those fools at Ringling abuse animals. What I do find shocking is that this Read guy, Mister Animal Steward, would actually offer such an idiotic representation. Uhh, Read, note to self, this is 2007. Just because you say cigarettes are good for us doesn’t mean we are going to take your word for it. I suspect that Mr. Read’s limited ability at offering a more effective spin is right on par with Ringling’s ability to humanely treat its animals. However, I really don’t want to sound too harsh.
So let me make this offer: if Ringling replaces its animals with Mr. Read, hitting him with the whip and zapping him with the Taser, I will gladly pay my 20 bucks to watch. Until then, Read can save his nonsensical diatribe for those folks who don’t yet have running water.
Chip Flaherty, San Diego

Dog owner has few options for park play
I am writing on behalf of some San Diego residents who currently use the fenced off-leash area at Fiesta Island. I was born in San Diego and grew up in the Bay Park area. I have enjoyed Mission Bay and Fiesta Island for more than 50 years.
I have swam, walked, biked and dinghied around Fiesta Island, with or without a dog, for decades. I love Fiesta Island just the way it is.
I have also walked and exercised my dog on leash around Shelter Island and Ocean Beach Dog Park and Dusty Rhodes Dog Park.
Last year I was diagnosed with cancer. After several surgeries and extensive chemotherapy, I was no longer able to walk with my dog on leash. I started coming to Fiesta Island every day to give my Australian Shepherd the exercise she needed, so she could run free.
I would walk as far as I could, then sit down, while my dog chased waves for 45 minutes or so. The southwest corner of Fiesta Island, inside the fenced area, was a godsend. No cars, no traffic, no noisy ballfields. Just peace and quiet. There was plenty of room for bicyclists, joggers, walkers and dog owners to interact and enjoy themselves without conflict.
I couldn’t use Ocean Beach Dog Park on weekends because there are no parking spaces available. The deep sores and huge blisters on my feet precluded walking more than a short distance.
I tried Dusty Rhodes Park but my dog became bored after covering it in two minutes. Fiesta Island, with its open parking and extensive shoreline, was perfect for me.
The first day on Fiesta Island I met a young woman, who like me walked with a considerable limp. She was an Iraq war veteran who had lost the use of one foot and leg up to the knee. She had her four dogs with her.
We talked that day and on many other occasions. She stated that she had considered suicide at one point. She also stated that walking around Fiesta Island’s off-leash area had helped her keep her sanity and work through some emotional issues.
The peace and tranquility of this area is a major asset to San Diego. Putting a road through the middle of it would destroy the ambience. Including turf areas for playing fields would destroy the peace and quiet.
This area needs to be preserved just as it is, for persons who need a respite, a safe and peaceful place to enjoy without or without their dogs ” no cars, no traffic, no noisy ballfields.
I also met a number of senior citizens who come here to walk their dogs and enjoy other humans’ company. They choose to come here because of the friendly and safe atmosphere. I have been to other city beaches, parks, dog parks, with or without my dog.
Fiesta Island is one of the best. The seniors also like it because they can choose just how far to walk and because they don’t have to worry about their small dog’s safety. They also enjoy the absence of confusing hassles, excessive rules and pickiness.
Fiesta Island has a live-and-let-live quality about it. If this fenced off-leash area is divided into small compartments it will be a big hassle to enjoy a nice long peaceful walk or bike ride.
If it is “rezoned” to multiple fenced compartments, with gates, overpasses/bridges, and designated areas with an off-leash area here, no dogs there, dogs on-leash here, changing every few hundred yards, it will be difficult for dog owners and others to enjoy without worry. And putting ballfields/turf areas in the middle of it would waste a lot of water and bring a lot of noise and trash to the area.
Please leave Fiesta Island in its current condition; it provides a safe haven for walkers, bicyclists, swimmers, boaters, other hobbies like kite flying, RC toys and dog owners.
Janice Cox, Shelter Island